Rail anticreep device



1949. c. J. HUNNICUTT 2,479,932

RAIL ANTICREEP DEVI CE Filed Aug. 13, 1945 v W /z ISmaentor 042m ad/7M qGttornen Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILANTICREEP DEVICE Caddie J. Hunnicutt, Kansas City, Mo., asslgnor to G &H Rail Controls, Inc., a corporation of Missouri 2 Claims.

This invention relates to track rail securing means of that classembodying cross ties and tie-plates disposed at suitable intervals uponselected cross ties, and the primary object of the invention is to makeprovision for establishing and maintaining a fixed relation between theassociated rail and tie-plates to the end of guarding againstdislocation of the track rail.

Specifically, my object is to provide means for supplementing thecramping action on the base of the rail by the conventional type ofspikes, by means of a spring plate for engagement directly with the railbase or indirectly by engagement with the heads of spikes in engagementwith the rail base.

Another .object is to provide means of the character indicated, havingthe dual function of applying compressive force directly on the railbase and for overlying and limiting upward movement of said spikes whichare in engagement with the rail base.

A still further object is to provide track rail securing means ofsimple, strong, durable and inexpensive construction, and which can beinstalled easily and quickly at low cost.

With the objects set forth in view, the invention consists in certainnovel and useful features of construction and organization ashereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fullyunderstood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich- Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a railroad trackequipped with rail-securing means embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a track rail as secured in position by aplurality of the securing means disposed at opposite sides of the railand in relation to alternate cross ties.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line IIL-III of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a compression spring plate forclamping engagement with the heads of spikes.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section of a modified form of theinvention wherein the clamping spring spans the spikes and directlyengages the rail base, said cross section being taken on the line VV ofFigure 6.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line VI-VI ofFigure 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like reference charactersidentify corresponding parts in all of the views, I indicatesconventional or other suitable cross ties, and 2 a section of a trackrail for anchorage upon the cross ties.

It is designed that a flat metal tie-plate 3 as shown, shall beinterposed between the rail and cross tie as customary, and thetie-plate equipped with upstanding ribs 4 for fitting against oppositemargins of the rail base, and with holes 5 for the reception of thespikes 6, and the latter have the usual off-set heads 1, to applyclamping pressure or force down upon the base of the rail.

My improvement fundamentally, is to prevent or minimize creepage of therail, and to accomplish such result 1 have made provision for theapplication of heavy pressure on the base of the track rail in additionto the cramping action on the rail by spikes.

As a simple and efficient method of applying a yielding or springpressure directly upon the base of the rail, or upon the heads of spikesoverlapping and engaging the base of the rail, I have provided for eachpair of such spikes at one side of the rail, a stiff but resilientspring plate 8, which bears at its ends upon the heads of such spikes(Figs. 1 to 3) or spans such heads and bears only on the base of therail, (Figs. 5 and 6) if desired. In either case the resilient plate isof bowed form and is fitted midway its length through an opening ornotch 9 in an upstanding arm 10 rigid with the tie-plate and overhangingthe base of the rail. In the use where the spring plate directly engagesthe rail base, it will be spaced slightly above the heads of saidspikes.

To apply the bowed spring plate it is threaded through the opening ornotch of said arm, being put under heavy stress to flatten or reduce thebow enough for the purpose and at the same time engage the base of therail or the heads of the spikes, as the case may be. When so disposed itfinds resistance by the arm and exerts a continuous pressure downward atits ends, and thus serves to supplement or increase the force tending toprevent longitudinal creepage of the rail and upward movement of thespikes.

To guard against longitudinal slippage or creepage of the spring plate,it is formed with a depression where engaged with the arm Ill, thusproviding shoulders II which bear against opposite sides of said arm toprevent the creepage mentioned, and to facilitate the threading of thespring plate through the opening of arm I ll, and upon .or over theheads of the spikes, the extremities of said plate are flared slightlyupward, as at 12.

It will be apparent from the description and drawing, that with theequipment of my invention, rails may be secured safely in positionwithout the use of bolts and nuts. and with practically no chance, underordinary service conditions, of the rails creeping longitudinally orspreading outward or collapsing inward, as it will be impossible for thespikes to work upward as long as subjected to the pressure of the springplate, or appreciably upward where the spring p te S ly, Ql 'e I 5-fim-l From the ablovde' scription and drawing it will be apparent that thestructure possesses the advantages set forth as objectives in theintroductory part of the specification, and that changes ormodifications may be made withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope oftheappendedclaims. Reference is made to myngcoifndin'gdivisionalapplication Serial No. 40,367, filed July 23, 1948, claiming subjectmatter shown but not claimed in the instant case.

I claim: g

1. The combination with a track rail and an un rlyin cr s t erq fla tiePl between the cross tie and the bottom of the rail, provided with ribsi'ltt'e d against the adjacent edge of the base of the rail, and with anupstanding armoverhan'ging the base oi the rail and midway the width ofthe plate, spikes extending through the plate into the tie, providedwith heads overlying and engaging the base of the rail, and a springplate extending parallel with the rail and underlying said arm of thetie plate and bearing against the same and at its ends engaging andapplying downward pressure on the spikes.

2. A track rail assembly, characterized as in claim 1, said springplatehaving a depressed portion providing shoulders bearing againstopposite sides .of the said arm of the tie plate.

CADDIS J. HUNN'ICUTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

